The market for obstacle detection and driver assistance systems is growing rapidly and is expected to reach $6.4 billion by 2012 vs. $1.4 billion today (a 29% compound annual growth rate). Canesta's technology is first applied to parking assist systems which replace existing ultrasonic sensors (which are inadequate for robust detection and often an eyesore) and will be combined with 2D video cameras to provide more automated obstacle detection functions at a fraction of the cost of RADAR distance-sensing technologies.

The video below shows one such example of the capabilities of an obstacle detection system built with Canesta's electronic perception technology.

Rear-Obstacle Detection

With larger vehicles capturing greater market share, rear obstacles are an important challenge for automakers to address. Canesta-based 3D imaging sensors on the rear of vehicles can provide smart detection of fixed and moving obstacles - with better performance than radar, ultrasonic sensors, or traditional cameras. Canesta-based solutions cover wider areas, filter out non-significant objects (such as curbs or trailer hitches), and virtually eliminate blind spots.

In combination with the vehicle's navigation display, Canesta can present real-time images and overhead views of the scene behind the vehicle. This can prevent drivers from colliding with objects and people who would otherwise not be visible to the driver when backing up or parking. Or can prevent power-lift gates from striking people, vehicles, or other obstacles by quickly reversing its motion when an obstacle is detected.

Parking Assistance

Unlike ultrasonic sensors in today's bumpers that involve multiple components, affect the aesthetics of the vehicle, and provide limited range functionality and unlike large, expensive radar systems, a Canesta solution can implement a single component, may be mounted away from the damage-prone bumper, and provide more accurate ranging and recognition capabilities for precise parking maneuvers.